\u0642\u0627\u0644 \u0642\u0627\u0644 \u0631\u0633\u0648\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0635\u0644\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0639\u0644\u064a\u0647 \u0648 \u0633\u0644\u0645 \u0625\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u062e\u0644\u0642 \u0622\u062f\u0645 \u0645\u0646 \u0642\u0628\u0636\u0629 \u0642\u0628\u0636\u0647\u0627 \u0645\u0646 \u062c\u0645\u064a\u0639 \u0627\u0644\u0623\u0631\u0636 \u0641\u062c\u0627\u0621 \u0628\u0646\u0648\u0627 \u0622\u062f\u0645 \u0639\u0644\u0649 \u0642\u062f\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0623\u0631\u0636 \u062c\u0627\u0621 \u0645\u0646\u0647\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0623\u0628\u064a\u0636 \u0648 \u0627\u0644\u0623\u062d\u0645\u0631 \u0648 \u0627\u0644\u0623\u0633\u0648\u062f \u0648 \u0628\u064a\u0646 \u0630\u0644\u0643 \u0648 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0647\u0644 \u0648 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u0632\u0646 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u062e\u0628\u064a\u062b \u0648 \u0627\u0644\u0637\u064a\u0628<\/span><\/p>\n The Messenger of All\u0101h (Peace and blessing be upon him) said,\u201dCertainly, All\u0101h created \u0100dam from a handful taken from the entire earth, thus the children of \u0100dam come in accordance with the earth, some being white, red, black, and in between\u2026\u201d1<\/sup><\/a>
\nIntroduction<\/b><\/span>
\nWe begin in the name of All\u0101h, Who created the father of mankind from clay and caused his progeny to have different languages, complexions and temperaments. May the best of peace and blessings be upon His beloved, our prophet, who demolished the customs of the Days of Ignorance and called humanity to the justice and mercy of Isl\u0101m.<\/span>
\nAfrica is a vast continent and the first contacts it has with Isl\u0101m are varied. In East Africa, it first appears in the form of refugees when the Companions, may All\u0101h be pleased with them, sought asylum with the Christian king, A\u1e63\u1e25amah, may Allah have mercy on him. Isl\u0101m enters North Africa militarily, dislodging the grip of the Byzantine Empire and cultivating not only a native army that carried Isl\u0101m into Spain, but cities of knowledge like Qayraw\u0101n.
\nDuring the trans-Saharan2<\/sup><\/a> trade Muslim scholars and traders would enter bil\u0101d al-s\u016bd\u0101n <\/i>(West Africa) and contribute to the peaceful spread of Isl\u0101m; places like Timbuktu, and Djenn\u00e93<\/sup><\/a> would become central points in the transmission and growth of Isl\u0101m.
\nWhen Ibn Ba\u1e6d\u016b\u1e6dah recorded his travelogue he remembered the following good qualities of the people inhabiting West Africa: their diligence in the performance of \u1e63al\u0101h<\/i>, especially in jam\u0101<\/i>c<\/sup><\/i><\/span>ah<\/i>; their wearing beautiful white clothes for jum<\/i><\/span>c<\/sup><\/i><\/span>ah<\/i>; as well as the care they took with ensuring their children memorized the Qur\u2019\u0101n and not tolerating shortcomings in this regard.4<\/sup><\/a><\/span>
\nFrom the pure spring of this concern and diligence people like Sheikh A\u1e25mad B\u0101b\u0101, Uthm\u0101n Dan Fodio, Ab\u016b Bakr, Bil\u0101li Mu\u1e25ammad, and countless others were nourished and given the strength to raise the banner of Isl\u0101m for succeeding generations.
\nIn short, people of African descent have a long and illustrious history with Isl\u0101m but we sometimes forget this. Furthermore, much of that information, indeed, majority of our Islamic heritage, is in Arabic, and despite this the desire to learn the language in order to access that knowledge does not seem to be present. Who can we blame but ourselves?
\nIn the pages that follow, the issue of honor, racial superiority, and the lives of 18 Muslims of African descent will be discussed. This is my attempt to appease some people who have asked me time and again about translating Ibn Jaw\u1e93\u012b\u2019s book, \u1e6canw\u012br al-Ghabash,<\/i> since I cannot seem to find the time to embark on that project, despite the clear need for it, especially in today’s climate.
\nMajority of the names and sayings of the Companions and pious people of the past, with the exception of a few individuals who were brought to my attention during the writing of this paper or during previous readings of other books, have been taken from the D\u0101r al-Shar\u012bf print of Im\u0101m Ibn Jaw\u1e93\u012b\u2019s \u1e6canw\u012br<\/i> al-Ghabash<\/i> (T) and Im\u0101m Suy\u016bt\u012b\u2019s Raf<\/i>c<\/sup><\/i><\/span> Sha\u2019n al-\u1e24ubsh\u0101n <\/i>(R) which was edited by Mu\u1e25ammad <\/span>c<\/sup><\/span>Abd al-Wahh\u0101b Fa\u1e0dl. This information has been\u00a0 <\/span>cross referenced in other books which I have listed in the footnotes.<\/span>
\nThe first book in the footnotes after I mention (T) and\/or (R) has an explicit mention of the individual\u2019s African origins, while the books mentioned afterwards may or may not mention it.
\nIbn al-Jaw\u1e93\u012b:<\/b>
\nIm\u0101m Ab\u016b Al-Faraj c<\/sup><\/span>Abdur-Ra\u1e25m\u0101n ibn <\/span>c<\/sup><\/span>Al\u012b al-Qurashi al-\u1e24anbali al-Baghd\u0101d\u012b (509\/10-597 AH). This great sheikh<\/i> is a descendant of Ab\u016b Bakr, may All\u0101h be pleased with him. He studied with around eighty scholars. He was well versed in \u1e6cafs\u012br<\/i>, \u1e24ad\u012bth<\/i>, etc. He is the author of \u1e6calb\u012bs Ibl\u012bs<\/i> (The Devil\u2019s Deception<\/i>) and other books<\/span>. About him Al-Dhahab\u012b has written, \u201cI don’t know anyone who has compiled what he compiled.\u201d Someone once asked him, “Which is better, glorifying All\u0101h or seeking His forgiveness?” The Im\u0101m replied, “Dirty clothes are more in need of soap than perfuming.\u201d He is the first person known to have written a book on this specific topic.<\/span>6<\/sup><\/a>
\nJal\u0101llud\u012bn al-Suy\u016bt\u012b<\/b>:
\n\u1e24\u0101fidh Jal\u0101lludd\u012bn Ab\u016b Al-Fa\u1e0dl c<\/sup><\/span>Abdur-Ra\u1e25m\u0101n ibn Ab\u012b Bakr Al-Suy\u016bt\u012b al-Sh\u0101fi<\/span>c<\/sup><\/span>\u012b (849-911 AH). He memorized the Qur\u2019\u0101n before he reached 8 years of age, then memorized other Isl\u0101mic books including <\/span>c<\/sup><\/i><\/span>Umdah al-A\u1e25k\u0101m<\/i>. He was the most knowledgeable person in his time with respect to \u1e25ad\u012bth <\/i>and the sciences connected to it. One of his students mentioned that al-Suy\u016bt\u012b had fifty-one teachers and had compiled five hundred books.\u00a0<\/span>In\u00a0\u1e24usn al-Mu\u1e25\u0101dharah,\u00a0<\/i><\/i>Im\u0101m Suy\u016bt\u012b lists Rafc<\/sup><\/i><\/span> Sha\u2019n al-\u1e24ubsh\u0101n<\/span><\/i><\/i> amongst the books he wrote on history. He<\/span>\u00a0also mentions \u00a0that he had traveled to Sh\u0101m, Hij\u0101z, Yemen, India, the Maghrib, and Takr\u016b<\/span>r<\/span>.<\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i>
\nHafidh Jal\u0101llud\u012bn came across Im\u0101m Ibn Jaw\u1e93i\u2019s book [i.e. Tanw\u012br al-Ghabash<\/em> ] and saw that it had room for increase so he wrote another book on this topic. He subsequently produced an abridgment entitled A\u1e93h\u0101r al-c<\/sup><\/i><\/span>Ur\u016bsh F\u012b Akhb\u0101r al-\u1e24ub\u016bsh<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span>In Mic<\/sup><\/i><\/span>r\u0101j al-\u1e62uc<\/sup><\/i><\/span>\u016bd<\/span><\/span><\/em> (The Ladder of Ascent Towards Grasping The Law Concerning Transported Blacks), Ahm\u0101d B\u0101b\u0101 and the person whom he was corresponding with quote from Rafc<\/sup><\/i><\/span> Sha\u2019n al-\u1e24ubsh\u0101n.<\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i> In one place A\u1e25mad B\u0101b\u0101 states: \u201cI came across it myself in his book entitled<\/span> Rafc<\/sup><\/i><\/span> Sha\u2019n al-\u1e24absh\u0101n.\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i>The Sheikh also quotes Im\u0101m Suy\u016bti’s abridgement<\/span><\/span>\u00a0A\u1e93h\u0101r al-c<\/sup><\/i><\/span>Ur\u016bsh F\u012b Akhb\u0101r al-\u1e24ub\u016bsh<\/span><\/em><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i>: \u201cAnd your statement concerning the name of the book<\/span><\/span> A\u1e93h\u0101r<\/em> [al-c<\/sup><\/i><\/span>Ur\u016bsh<\/span><\/em>], <\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i>I came across it in the land of Darca, but I am now uncertain whether it was the book itself or [it\u2019s] abridgment[:]<\/span><\/span> N\u016br al-ghabash f\u012b akhb\u0101r al-\u1e24abash<\/em>.<\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/span>7
\n<\/sup><\/a><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i><\/span>
\n<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i>Finally, Mu\u1e25ammad Ibn Y\u016bnus, may All\u0101h have mercy on him, said, \u201cI haven\u2019t seen anything more beneficial for the heart than the mention of the righteous people.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>8<\/sup><\/a><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/i><\/span>
\nMay All\u0101h give us the \u1e6dawf\u012bq<\/i> (Divine assistance) to follow in the footsteps of His Messenger, the noble Companions, and the pious predecessors, resurrect us amongst them, and enter us into Jannah with them. \u0100m\u012bn<\/i>.
\n
\n<\/span>Main Article<\/b><\/span>
\n\u201cAmerica needs to understand Isl\u0101m, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem.\u201d – Al-\u1e24ajj Mal\u012bk al-Shabb\u0101\u1e93 (Malcolm X) [may All\u0101h have mercy on him]<\/span>
\nIt is one of the mercies of All\u0101h that after creating us He did not leave us to use our intellect to guess at how we should live. Rather, All\u0101h dispatched intelligent, upright prophets and messengers to explain to us how to be humans. Bereft of that Divine guidance, humanity will behave worse than animals and oppress one another, even though they claim to be the flag bearers of basic human rights and the champions of the underprivileged.
\nBefore the deputation of our Prophet \ufdfa the world was drowning in massive oceans of darkness and oppression due to straying from the prophetic teachings brought by past messengers. Jac<\/sup><\/span>far ibn Ab\u012b T\u0101lib, may All\u0101h be pleased with him, described the horrendous state of the Arab in particular when he was speaking to the Naj\u0101sh\u012b of Abyssinia:<\/span>
\n\u201cWe were a people who were ignorant,\u201d He explained when the delegation from the Quraish came seeking the return of the Muslims who had made hijr\u0101<\/i> and sought asylum in Abyssinia from religious persecution, \u201cWe worshipped idols, ate carrion, perpetrated all types of foul deeds, severed the ties of kinship, and treated our neighbors badly; the strong amongst us consumed the weak.\u201d9<\/sup><\/a>
\nThrough Isl\u0101m, All\u0101h gave honor to the Muslims. Through it, He raised forth people from pits of degradation, humiliation, and lowliness to high pulpits of honor and respectability; criminals became people of immense piety; people considered the lowliest members of society became the leaders of the ummah<\/i> of the beloved of All\u0101h. Dignity and humanity were given back to the children of \u0100dam.
\nOn the historic visit of c<\/sup><\/span>Umar, may All\u0101h be pleased with him, to Bai\u1e6d al-Maqdis in order to accept the surrender of its people, he told one of the Companions, \u201cYou were the most humiliated, despicable, and insignificant of people, and All\u0101h gave you honor through Isl\u0101m.\u201d He then said, \u201cWhenever you seek honor by means of something other than Isl\u0101m, All\u0101h will abase you.\u201d<\/span>10<\/sup><\/a>
\nCommenting on the verse, \u201cHonor belongs to All\u0101h, and His messenger and the believers,\u201d11<\/sup><\/a> c<\/sup><\/span>All\u0101mah \u0100l\u016bs\u012b, may All\u0101h have mercy on him, writes that the honor which All\u0101h has bestowed upon the Messenger \ufdfa is by means of the noble function he has been given, while that of the believers is due to their im\u0101n<\/i>.12<\/sup><\/a><\/span> The scholar then goes on to quote a pious woman who said, \u201cAm I not in the state of Isl\u0101m which is such an honor that there is no disgrace with it and such a wealth that there is no poverty with it?\u201d13<\/sup><\/a>
\nWhile we are in need of All\u0101h and His D\u012bn to succeed both in this world and the one to come after this one. He, pure is He from all defects, is not in need of us, nor is His D\u012bn in need of us. He, glorified be His mention, has stated in the Qur\u2019\u0101n: \u201cAnd if you turn away, He will replace you with another people, and they will not be like you.\u201d14<\/sup><\/a> Ibn Kath\u012br, may All\u0101h have mercy on him, elaborates on this verse, stating, \u201cAnd if you turn away from His obedience and following His shari<\/i>c<\/sup><\/i><\/span>ah<\/i>, He will replace you with another people who will not be like you, rather they will listen to Him and obey His commands.\u201d<\/span>15<\/sup><\/a>
\nThe great \u1e24anaf\u012b scholar, Mull\u0101 c<\/sup><\/span>Al\u012b al-Q\u0101r\u012b, may All\u0101h have mercy on him, details who these substitutes are: \u201cThey are the Persians, because he, peace be upon him, was asked about them while Salm\u0101n, may All\u0101h be pleased with him, was sitting by his side. He struck [Salm\u0101n\u2019s] thigh and said, \u2018This one and his companions.\u2019\u201d<\/span>16<\/sup><\/a> All\u0101h will bestow His D\u012bn on whomsoever He likes, and will use whomsoever He likes to spread it, regardless of their nationality, mother tongue, or skin color.
\nAn Arab does not have a monopoly on Isl\u0101m because he is an Arab, and the same goes for a non-Arab. In Isl\u0101m there is no special claim of superiority for anyone on the basis of worldly connections. Even if one comes from a pious family, this familial tie is not a substitute for one\u2019s own actions. It is not enough to have family members and ancestors who have \u1e6daqw\u0101, <\/i>we must also have it. May All\u0101h make the author and the readers amongst the people of \u1e6daqw\u0101<\/i>.
\nAll\u0101h has made \u1e6daqw\u0101 <\/i>(i.e. one\u2019s compliance with the commands and prohibitions of All\u0101h) the sole criterion by which superiority and virtue is gauged. Didn’t our Prophet \ufdfa inform us that All\u0101h does not look at our outward forms nor our wealth, but He looks at our hearts and our actions?17<\/sup><\/a> All humans are equal in their humanity, and the extent one\u2019s piety exceeds that of another human is a matter known only to All\u0101h, thus there is no reason for an individual to consider themselves better than anyone else.
\nMoreover, on the day Makkah was conquered, the Prophet \ufdfa addressed the people, saying, \u201cO mankind, All\u0101h has erased the arrogance, pride, and mutual boasting [of the Days of Ignorance]. Mankind is of two types: a righteous individual with \u1e6daqw\u0101<\/i> [for whom it is not fitting that they behave arrogantly towards anyone since the pivot on which im\u0101n<\/i> rests is one’s end, and All\u0101h knows best who has more \u1e6daqw\u0101<\/i>], and a disobedient individual who is wretched and despicable in the sight of All\u0101h. Mankind are all the children of \u0100dam, and All\u0101h created \u0100dam from dirt<\/b>. All\u0101h says: O mankind, indeed, We created you all from a male and female and made you into [near and distant relations] so that you might recognize one another; without a doubt, the most honorable of you in the sight of All\u0101h is the one with the most \u1e6daqw\u0101<\/i>; indeed, All\u0101h is All-Knowing, Well-Informed.<\/i>\u201d18<\/sup><\/a>
\nBringing our attention to His perfect power in His creation of differing varieties from one thing, Allah mentions in \u1e63\u016brah<\/i> al-F\u0101tir, \u201cHave you not considered that All\u0101h sends down water from the heavens and We take out by means of it fruits of differing colors [i.e. green, red, yellow, etc.], and amongst the mountains are tracks, white and red, of differing colors, and extremely black.\u201d19<\/sup><\/a> Elucidating the last section of this \u0101yah, Ibn Kath\u012br writes, \u201cAnd He created the mountains in a like manner of differing colors, as is witnessed as well, white and red. And in some of them are paths that are also of differing colors.\u201d20<\/sup><\/a>
\nAll\u0101h continues in the following \u0101yah, \u201cAnd among mankind, animals, and cattle are differing colors in a like manner.”21<\/sup><\/a> That is, living things like human beings, animals, and cattle differ in a similar manner. Amongst mankind are the Berber, Abyssinian, and [other] non-Arab22<\/sup><\/a> who are extremely black; the Sicilians and Romans who are extremely white; the Arab who are in between, as well as the Indians [who are slightly lighter than the Arab].